There were no words to describe the weirdness of the circumstances. It all began with a mysterious letter found in their house's mailbox. Even the red wax seal with the strange emblem couldn't foretell what was about. An invitation to a magical school was not something that James Thomas had ever expected to receive. Initially, the boy thought it was an invitation for those schools for magicians, where you were taught how to perform tricks with the assistance of illusions and fast movements. Talent hunters were always around the places where he and his peers were used to perform. Someone might have seen his talent and invited him to improve his skills. However, the school named Hogwarts was suggesting something different. Magic was real and he was invited to attend a magic school for wizards and witches. JT thought that his friends were playing some sort of prank on him. He had been telling now and then that magic would be a cool thing to exist and he was usually mocked after such statements. But when his mother returned from her shift at the hospital, the two of them had a lot talk at their house's kitchen. It turned out to be no hoax but an astonishing truth. His mother might wasn't magical unlike what the letter was suggesting about him but her greatgranduncle was rumored to be a wizard. Perhaps this had survived in JT's blood since that greatgranduncle never had children.
The shocking reveal of a whole new world came along with much change. Change that JT didn't like at all despite his fascination about the whole magic thing. Hogwarts was a border school, which meant that he had to spend most of his time there. He could no longer hang around with his pals at the neighbourhoods and skateparks of Albany, New Zealand, his hometown. And the consolation that he could see them during holidays wasn't enough for him. Moreover, he was suggested by his mother that he shouldn't talk openly about his new status as a wizard. "People sometimes don't understand." she kept staying although JT couldn't understand why his best friend shouldn't know. Perhaps they were wizards and witches as well and they could join him at that magic school.
Along with the invitation letter, a long list of school supplies was also included. A list that made both his mother and him to think that maybe there was still a chance the whole situation to be a hoax. However, when the two of them arrived at the place where the list was suggesting they were going to find his school supplies, a whole new world unfurled before him.
Books about witchcraft, spells and potions. A whole new dress code that JT didn't like from the very first beginning. New pets. Everything was new and scary. The school uniform couldn't get more rediculous. He had to wear black robes and jumpers when the only clothes he let on his body were hodies, t-shirts and jeans. He had been keeping riding his mother for a dog pet, he loved dogs but now he had for a pet a male horned owl that he perfunctorily named it Boo. Magical people had different ways of travelling as well but he was content with his bicycle and his skateboard. He also purchased a wand. A quick research in one of his newly bought books, suggested that all the magic was happening through this piece of wood but he was feeling like an idiot while holding it. After this visit at Diagon Alley, he was no longer sure if he wanted to be a part of this new, secret world.
Days passed quickly. He said goodbye to his friends, lying to them that he was accepted to a board school overseas. He promised he was going to be back on holidays but this seemed to be so far. That morning when he arrived with his mother at the train station, his stomach was a bottomless pit. He had never left his mother alone. Ever since his father had died on that car accident, he had promised to himself to look after her. His mother was pretending to be all cool but he noticed her wet eyes when she kissed her cheeks and advised him to live the best of this experience. A steam locomotive was the students' means of transport to the school. JT wasn't pleased with this old-fashioned environment. At least he managed to have a long slumber throughout the journey to wake up to countryside and a huge castle.
First years were transported on boats that were navigating on their own through the dark waters of a large lake. The enormous castle with the crescent moon at the background looked like it was drawn out of a horror film. Apparently, wizardry world was going to be old-fashioned in every way, even with their facilities. When the boats reached the shores, the first years assemblied, dressed in their black robes and were guided in the interior of the castle. Most of his fellow young wizards and witches expressed their awe with exclamations. JT was more reserved but he couldn't deny that this place has something special. Slightly surprised, he watched a couple of decorating armors moving and waving at them and a transparent figure passing through a wall. Was that a ghost? The old, animated portraits didn't appeal to him much. To his opinion, this place needed serious redecorations. He had already spotted the candidate wall to accept his graffitis.
Then the large double doors opened to reveal a spacious chamber. Candles were floating gently above four, long tables occupied already by older students. JT stumbled on one of his fellow first years as his gaze pinned on the enchanted ceiling. It almost looked like there was no ceiling but he could see straight at the cloudless night sky. The first years slowly reached the professors' table. At a first glance, JT couldn't tell much about them. He hoped they were more progressive and open minded than the teachers he had at his previous school. Lecturing through a book was pathetic to his point of view. A teacher should know how to captivate their audience, their students. Apart from the professors' table, on the podium was also placed a stool with a rather shabby hat on it. "What? Do we have to draw a bunny out of it or something." he mused, not really caring if he was heard or not. The procedure turned to be something completely different.
To his surprise, the had was very alive and good at rhymes. JT was too shocked to really process the meaning of its song but he clapped along with the rest of the audience at the end. The headmistress explained what was going to be the procedure after her opening statement. She looked like a nice person to him and took it as a good sign for the rest of the school's staff. JT curiously watched as the first student was summoned, standing on his toes to see better what was going to happen. The rim of the old hat blocked the student's visibility and mused before announcing loudly the name of a house. It seemed to him that this animated hat could read them and immediately felt uncomfortable. Sooner that what he had expected, his name was called and he squeezed his way through the safety of the first year's herd. As he was taking the last steps towards the stool, he reminded himself that nothing wrong was going to happen. He sat down comfortably and let the professor place the old hat on his head. A fusty smell reached his nostrils as the view of the hall disappeared and the hat started invading his thoughts.
"Gryffindor."
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